Eligibility

All students must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to receive and retain their student financial aid, including all types of federal loans.

Who is Eligible for Financial Aid

  • Students enrolled in an eligible program
  • U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens
  • Students registered with the Selective Service (if required)
  • Students making satisfactory academic progress
  • Student who are not in default on a student loan or owe a refund on a student grant

Who is NOT Eligible for Financial Aid 

  • Students enrolled in the following programs
    • SFGH Nurse Midwifery Program
    • Second Year Midwifery Master's Track and Family Nurse Practitioner attending UCSD
    • Paramedics
    • Emergency Room Technician
    • Dental Post-Graduate Fellowship Programs in Oral Medicine
    • Clinical Epidemiology
    • Geriatric Dentistry
    • Advanced Education in General Dentistry
    • Continuing Education
  • Pharmacy Residents
  • Medical Residents
  • Interns at the Landberg Center
  • Limited Status Students
  • International Students who are not permanent U.S. residents

Eligibility Requirements

  • Do not be in default or owe a refund
    In order to receive financial aid, students must not be in default on repayment for a Federal Perkins Loan/NDSL, a Federal Stafford Loan/GSL, Federal Direct Loan, or any other educational loan given for attendance at UCSF or another institution. Additionally, students must not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant, a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, or a State Student Incentive Grant.
  • Satisfy selective service requirement
    In order to receive financial aid from federal or state programs, male students must be registered with Selective Service if required to do so under registration law. Males ranging in age from 18 through 25, including permanent residents and other eligible non-citizens, are required to register. Failure to register when required to do so may result in denial of financial aid eligibility.
  • Complete verification (if selected)
    To receive funds from federal programs, students must sometimes complete a process called verification. If selected, the necessary verification form plus instructions will be provided by the Student Financial Services Office. In such cases, the U.S. Department of Education requires us to verify the information used to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by collecting supporting documentation from students who are selected for verification during FAFSA processing. If you are selected for verification, you will also receive notification from the Department of Education via the Student Aid Report. The Student Financial Services Office also notifies you about the verification process and may request additional documents. For a complete list of required verification documents, please visit Forms. Your financial aid package is conditional, and subject to change, until the verification process is completed and funds cannot be released to you. Once the verification review is complete, your Financial Aid Hold will be removed from your record.
  • Make satisfactory academic progress (SAP)

    Students receiving financial aid are required to make satisfactory progress toward their degree objectives. The specific definition of satisfactory progress varies from one curriculum to another, and a copy of the applicable policy is sent to each entering student during the first quarter of enrollment. Copies of the policies can be viewed here:

  • Attend school full-time
    UCSF students are expected to attend school on a full-time basis unless official arrangements have been made and documented. Full-time attendance is generally defined as completing at least twelve units per quarter for the professional curriculums, and eight units per quarter for master's degree nursing students and students working toward the D.N.S. and PhD degrees. Despite minimum program requirements, students must attend full-time to maintain eligibility. Students may attend less than full-time, but financial aid will be decreased. Borrowers receiving a Federal Direct (Stafford) Loan must maintain at least half-time enrollment.
  • Do not exceed number of years on financial aid
    Students can receive financial aid for the length of time it normally takes to complete the program. Exceptions are occasionally made for students having academic or physical problems. Students who elect to attend longer (e.g. medical students who wish to do research) may fund the additional time with a Federal Direct (Stafford) Loan or other outside loans.
  • Report changes

    Financial aid recipients are required to report in writing any change in their status. Changes include but are not limited to:

    • Housing status
    • Student and spouse earnings
    • Resources from family
    • Receipt of scholarships and loans from outside agencies
    • Changes in marital status
    • Name changes
  • Avoid overawards

    If additional financial assistance is received after the initial offer is made, a student may be overawarded if the total amount of aid exceeds the amount of financial aid eligibility. Additional financial assistance includes but is not limited to:

    • Awards from UCSF such as Traineeships and Graduate Opportunity Awards
    • Private loans or scholarships

    Financial aid (usually loans) is reduced to resolve an overaward situation.